PARLIAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19308, 8 October 1932, Page 21

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON. October 7. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Hon. J. A. Hanan was elected Chairman of Committees and Deputy Speaker. Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate, Sir James Parr said it was too early yet to judge the Government's policy of retrenchment as the legislation dealing with interest, wages and rent had been in operation only for about six months. The new laws had created some injustices and anomalies, but in the main had relieved the burden of costs to farmers, tenants and borrowers. It was true that the cost of living had fallen 12 per cent, in the last eighteen months, but it would have to fall further before the public, suffering from recent legislation, would be compensated. The Coalition had performed unpleasant and difficult tasks courageously, and it should be given a fair chance to allow its policy to fructify. An alternative policy was the control of banking, the expansion of credit and manipulation of currency. which meant resorting to the printing press and disaster. The Government's pc cy was the safest in the long run. and while there should be constructive criticism, it should not be hampered. Sir James Parr said he deprecated the abuse of the National Expenditure Commission, which had performed meritorious public service. It had been stated that tne report was not practical politics, but it should not be a question of politics at all. It was largely a business issue as to whether the country wi'ln a deficit year after year could stand the expenditure. The Commission had shown grit, thoroughness and conscienciousness. The Address was adopted, and the Council rose at 4.45 p.m. till Wednesday, when the first order of the day will be the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 7. The House of Representatives met at 10.30 a.m. Privileges of the House. On the motion of the Prime Minister, a committee consisting of Messrs Forbes, Barnard, Coates, Endeaii, H. E. Holland, and Smith, was appointed to j consider and report upon any matter ■ referred to it concerning the privileges I of the House. It was further decided to refer to this committee the question of privilege raised by Mr Holland on Wednesday. Questions Answered. Replying to Mr F. Jones, the Hon. A. Hamilton said arrangements had been made that where the Unemployment Board could not find suitable work for crippled men, assistance would be granted by Hospital Boards. New Bills. The Workers Compensation Amendment Bill (Mr E. Holland), and the Jhristchurch Tramways District Amendment Bill (Mr J. McCombs), were introduced and read a first time. Introducing the former Bill, Mr Holland said it would be remembered when this measure was introduced last session, Mr Forbes had undertaken that steps would be taken to ascertain whether the Government should take it up. It was rendered necessary by the serious position created by relief work on one hand, and intermittent work on the other hand. This development had resulted in injured workers receiving, in many cases, only one-third of the normal compensation. The Bill proposed that in computing the average weekly earnings for the purpose of fixing the compensation to be paid, it should be not less than a full week's work, calculated on the basis of daily rates of wages, irrespective of whether the injured man had been working the full week or not. Mr Holland added that there was already provision to this effect in respect of the waterside workers, and it was important that it should be extended to other cases of intermittent work and relief work. He instanced a case in which a married man with a family was receiving only 16/6 a week compensation under the present conditions. Mr Forbes suggested that the Bill should be referred to the Labour Bills Committee, and Mr Holland undertook to move in this direction when the Bill came up for the second reading lien Wednesday. Railways Board. The report of the Government Railways Board was laid upon the table. Ottawa Conference. Mr Coates presented a report and summary of the proceedings of the Imperial Economic Conference at Ottawa. He said he proposed, on Thursday of next week, to make a statement, supplementing this document, and certain Customs resolutions would be moved on that occasion. These resolutions would be presented simultaneously in the Parliaments throughout the Empire, and they would become operative next day. At a later stage the Customs Bill would be brought down in accordance with the i ’al procedure, and the House would .. 'n have an opportunity to deal with the specific items that would be contained in the resolutions. He suggested that the occasion on which this Bill was under consideration would be a suitable one for a discussion of the report on the Ottawa Conference.